# 1186
It doesn't take a pandemic to ruin your entire day. Disasters happen all of the time, all over the world. A little over two years ago, my twin brother, a 20 year resident of New Orleans, lost just about everything in Hurricane Katrina.
It can happen to anyone, at anytime.
Floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, blizzards, and even man-made disasters like terrorist attacks, or chemical spills can quickly overwhelm a community.
Often there is no warning. No time to prepare.
For years Americans have been urged to keep a 72-hour kit in their homes containing essential items they might need in an emergency. Food, water, flashlights, a battery operated radio, and essential medications.
After Hurricane Katrina showed that relief operations can take longer than 72-hours to reach those affected by a disaster, that recommendation has been increased. The HHS now recommends at least a 2-week supply in every household.
There are other agencies, organizations, and individuals who promote an even greater state of preparedness. Yesterday, I blogged on the Larimer County, Colorado Health Departments advice to stock up on 90 days worth of prescription medicine in case of a pandemic.
Today, in the Coloradoan newspaper, there was a followup to that story. In addition to a 90 day supply of Rx meds, they also urge that people have 2-weeks to 12-weeks supply of food and water in their homes.
Seniors urged to stock up prescription drugs
BY HALLIE WOODS
Seniors should be thinking about how a pandemic flu event could slow or keep them from getting vital prescriptions, the county's top health official said this week.
"I'm worried about prescription drugs for this age group," Dr. Adrienne LeBailly, director of the Larimer County Department of Public Health and Environment, said Thursday at an American Association of Retired People conference at the Fort Collins Senior Center.
But senior citizens should take actions that any other citizen should take to prepare for a pandemic.
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That includes stocking up on food, water and supplies for two to 12 weeks, creating family and neighborhood plans and getting into good health habits like hand washing.
If a pandemic flu were to hit, people should also learn how to care for the sick at home, as health-care systems could be overwhelmed.
A pretty gutsy move on the part of a governmental agency, urging citizens to prepare for up to 90 days. Larimer County isn't alone, however.
Last year, officials in Lee County Florida recommended 40 days. In Alabama, the Health Department recommended 2 months last summer, as did the state of Arkansas. In Vermont, local officials advised 6 to 12 weeks supplies. Other states, municipalities, and agencies have weighed in with advice ranging from 30 to 90 days.
The Federal government, cognizant of how difficult and expensive it would be for the average family to stockpile a large supply of food and supplies, remains at the `at least 2-weeks' recommendation.
Unfortunately, very few Americans have even bothered to prepare for that minimum timespan. We've been lulled into believing that the stores will always be open, that help will always arrive, and that nothing really, really bad will ever happen to us.
Granted, laying in (and maintaining) a 90-day supply of food and supplies is a major undertaking. It can be expensive (although, by utilizing rice and beans, can be done relatively cheaply). And it requires a fair amount of storage area. It may not be practical for everyone.
But if everyone at least met the 2-week minimum recommendation, we'd be far better prepared as a nation to face a crisis. Those that can, and are so inclined, would do more.
I suspect, even during a severe pandemic, that a 90 day supply of food may be overkill for most families. But for some, in some locations, it may be lifesaving. The trouble is, we can't know in advance what areas will be hardest hit by shortages. And families that have, and don't need, a 90-day supply will be able to help their neighbors.
My advice to everyone is to at least try to meet the minimum recommendation, and have a 2-week supply on hand. Once you achieve that, add to it as you can, increasing your supplies by another week or two. Don't try to run out and buy a 90 day supply in one shopping trip, but try to work up to 90-days over time.
There are forums and website with good information on how to stock up. The checklists at www.pandemicflu.gov can give you a good starting place. The Flu forums, listed in my sidebar, are also good sources of information on how to prepare.
None of us are immune to disaster, although many of us have been blessed by years, even decades, without seeing one. Past good fortune is no guarantee that tomorrow will bring the same.
It pays to be prepared.
